9223827d83
Skip to content
Join the Academy
Log In
Academy Home
My Account
Contact Support
Academy Home
My Account
Contact Support
Lesson 1
Appeal to Authority
Academy
Fallacies and Biases, Oh My!
Appeal to Authority
Lesson Summary<p>Diving into the world of logical fallacies, this lesson uncovers the sneaky “Appeal to Authority” trap, where we’re tempted to take someone’s word as gospel just because they’re seen as an expert or boss-level character in a particular field. Imagine someone trying to win an argument by dropping a famous name or flashing their expert badge, expecting you to nod along without question. That’s the essence of this fallacy, and it’s everywhere, from classroom debates to the wild jungles of social media.</p><p>The lesson kicks off by shining a light on what a fallacy is all about—a sneaky error in reasoning that dresses up an argument to look good, even when it’s as shaky as a house of cards. Then, it zooms in on the “Appeal to Authority” fallacy, revealing how it plays out when people lean too heavily on the so-called experts without stopping to think, “Wait a minute. Does this actually make sense?”</p><p>It’s like being in a movie where the main character blindly follows the advice of the wise old sage without questioning it. Sure, it sounds cool and dramatic, but in the real world, blindly following someone’s lead can lead you down some pretty bizarre rabbit holes. This lesson serves up a reality check, reminding us that just because someone is standing on a pedestal with a megaphone, it doesn’t mean they’ve got all the answers.</p><p>Armed with vivid examples and thought-provoking insights, the lesson challenges you to switch on your detective mode. It encourages a healthy dose of skepticism and critical thinking, urging you not to take everything at face value, especially when it comes from someone perched high up on the authority ladder.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Takeaways</h3><div class="wp-block-uagb-icon-list uagb-block-fbcd267d"><div class="uagb-icon-list__wrap"><div class="wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-8f930f89"><span class="uagb-icon-list__source-wrap"><svg xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z"></path></svg></span><span class="uagb-icon-list__label"><strong>Question Authority:</strong> Just because someone is tagged as an expert doesn’t mean they’re immune to being wrong. Always ask, “Why should I believe this?”</span></div> <div class="wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-416041be"><span class="uagb-icon-list__source-wrap"><svg xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z"></path></svg></span><span class="uagb-icon-list__label"><strong>Think for Yourself: </strong>Don’t let the “expert” label do the thinking for you. Use your own brainpower to sift through the facts.</span></div> <div class="wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-2f09ea7d"><span class="uagb-icon-list__source-wrap"><svg xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z"></path></svg></span><span class="uagb-icon-list__label"><strong>Beware of the Expert Trap:</strong> Remember, even the smartest people can make mistakes or have biases. Their word isn’t the final say.</span></div> <div class="wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-0210da3c"><span class="uagb-icon-list__source-wrap"><svg xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z"></path></svg></span><span class="uagb-icon-list__label"><strong>Seek the Facts:</strong> Dig deeper than just who’s saying what. Look for the hard evidence and reasoning behind the claim.</span></div> <div class="wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-70cf1350"><span class="uagb-icon-list__source-wrap"><svg xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z"></path></svg></span><span class="uagb-icon-list__label"><strong>Stay Curious and Open:</strong> Always be ready to learn and adjust your views, but don’t let the dazzle of authority blind you to the truth.</span></div></div></div><div style="height:30px;" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div><div class="wp-block-columns slide-presentation has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex" style="background-color:#f5f5f5;"><div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:70px;"><figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full"><img width="242" height="71" alt="" sizes="(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px" nitro-lazy-srcset="https://cdn-ilcaech.nitrocdn.com/RWjNIlaZgwHUpfMaVEsNcDSUSYFBmaob/assets/images/optimized/rev-25eb744/tuttletwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-three-red-arrows-right.png 242w, https://cdn-ilcaech.nitrocdn.com/RWjNIlaZgwHUpfMaVEsNcDSUSYFBmaob/assets/images/optimized/rev-25eb744/tuttletwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-three-red-arrows-right-196x58.png 196w" nitro-lazy-src="https://cdn-ilcaech.nitrocdn.com/RWjNIlaZgwHUpfMaVEsNcDSUSYFBmaob/assets/images/optimized/rev-25eb744/tuttletwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-three-red-arrows-right.png" class="wp-image-637915 nitro-lazy" decoding="async" nitro-lazy-empty id="MTQ3ODo1ODE=-1" src="data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTQ3ODo1ODE=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMjQyIDcxIiB3aWR0aD0iMjQyIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjcxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:80px;"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img width="80" height="59" alt="" nitro-lazy-src="https://cdn-ilcaech.nitrocdn.com/RWjNIlaZgwHUpfMaVEsNcDSUSYFBmaob/assets/images/optimized/rev-25eb744/tuttletwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-laptop-lightbulb.png" class="wp-image-637913 nitro-lazy" decoding="async" nitro-lazy-empty id="MTQ4MDozMjk=-1" src="data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTQ4MDozMjk=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgODAgNTkiIHdpZHRoPSI4MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1OSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4=" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:320px;"><p><strong>Slide Presentation for this Lesson<br /><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vuva1jEOwk8cPklYi7Kk7YdQI9x3yl6z/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Download Now</a></strong></p></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:70px;"><figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full"><img width="242" height="71" alt="" sizes="(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px" nitro-lazy-srcset="https://cdn-ilcaech.nitrocdn.com/RWjNIlaZgwHUpfMaVEsNcDSUSYFBmaob/assets/images/optimized/rev-25eb744/tuttletwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-three-red-arrows-left.png 242w, https://cdn-ilcaech.nitrocdn.com/RWjNIlaZgwHUpfMaVEsNcDSUSYFBmaob/assets/images/optimized/rev-25eb744/tuttletwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-three-red-arrows-left-196x58.png 196w" nitro-lazy-src="https://cdn-ilcaech.nitrocdn.com/RWjNIlaZgwHUpfMaVEsNcDSUSYFBmaob/assets/images/optimized/rev-25eb744/tuttletwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-three-red-arrows-left.png" class="wp-image-637914 nitro-lazy" decoding="async" nitro-lazy-empty id="MTQ4NDo1Nzc=-1" src="data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTQ4NDo1Nzc=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMjQyIDcxIiB3aWR0aD0iMjQyIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjcxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"></div></div><div class="learndash-wrapper"></div>
Lesson Content
Knowledge Check: Appeal to Authority
Back to Course
Next Knowledge Check
